I am writing this article Jan. 29, and today was the warmest day we’ve had in weeks. The wind is terrible, but the thermometer in my car said it was 51 degrees Fahrenheit outside this afternoon.

My cat, Buster, likes to get into the car and go for a ride. Today we got into the car, and I only pulled out of the garage and into the driveway for our ride. While sitting out there for about 20 minutes, I noticed my magnolia tree looks like it may be getting buds. The warmer weather and the melted snow cover have also started to push the Galanthus, or snow drops, to peek through the mulch on the south side of my house.

I am sure many of the other spring bulbs will also get confused and start to push. Hopefully, their tops will not freeze or be eaten by critters when we get another cold spell.

As much as this warm day made me think about getting the pantry garden geared up, I know vegetable planting season is still about 15 weeks away. I am anticipating The Seed Farm will provide us with plant and seed support; however, I will most likely start some seeds indoors for my own garden.

Buster and his curious nature will ensure the seeds are pushed way down into the soil because he can’t stay out of or off anything. Despite his “assistance,” some of the seeds will sprout plants that will survive and provide me with great bounty this summer.

Just like professional athletes during the offseason, pantry garden volunteers such as myself don’t sit around and wait for the spring thaw. We spend our offseason staying in gardening shape by volunteering inside the food pantry and at monthly bingo.

On distribution Wednesdays in January, volunteers unloaded trucks from Second Harvest Food Bank, including shelf-stable food items, refrigerated dairy and juice items, frozen foods and fresh vegetables and fruit. Fresh carrots, onions and oranges were packed from their 50-pound bags into household-sized bags. We also prepared lettuce in clamp packs and heads of cabbage.

All totaled in January, at least 1,500 pounds of fresh vegetables and fruit were shared with our pantry guests.

On distribution Thursdays, volunteers put up pantry directional signs, coned off walkway safe zones, registered guests, prepared carts for shopping, shopped with guests, restocked shelves, pushed full carts out of the pantry, delivered carts to guests’ cars, took cardboard and trash to the dumpsters and returned empty carts into the pantry. It takes a village to make our pantry run successfully on distribution days.

Pantry gardeners also volunteered at WCHI’s bingo Jan. 12 at St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, 4 S. Fifth St., Coplay. Volunteers arrived by noon to set up, sold bingo boards and raffle tickets, verified bingos and weighed and sorted nonperishable food donations.

Volunteers, like me, also enjoy the amazing food and baked goods the St. Peter’s kitchen staff prepared for sale. WCHI’s next bingo is Feb. 9. Call Liz, bingo chair, at 484-274-6687 with questions.

Do you love to garden and need an activity to keep you in gardening shape during the offseason? Why not consider volunteering at our WCHI food pantry and/or at WCHI’s bingo? Email our volunteer coordinator, Sylvia Lee, at volunteerme.lee@gmail.com for more information on joining our team of volunteers.

Stay warm!

Editor’s note: This column was written by Gwen Herzog, pantry garden chair.